Séverine Cressan: “Maternity is largely a social construction”

In your novel, you don’t only brush the portrait of a nanny. Meanwhile, You describe the cogs of a real industry to which it is attached. Consequently, whose main material is the body of women. Meanwhile, How did this idea come to you? – Séverine cressan: "maternity largely social

I wrote a novel, which is based on a good dose of fiction. For example, But the economic activity around the nurses that I describe is perfectly documented. However, From the 13th century, recommendresses recruited nurses. Similarly, They spotted the right “dairy” to the color of their complexion. Nevertheless, their hair, as well as their physical constitution, in particular to the volume and shape of their chest. However, A woman could praise herself as a nanny at a place (she settled in a family in town). Furthermore, as a nanny to take away (at home). In addition, In the first case, séverine cressan: “maternity largely social she had to leave her children and entrust them to a neighbor. In addition, The nourishing industry – this is how it was called – experienced its peak in the 19th century. Consequently, The vast majority of city dwellers then entrusted their children to nurses.

Sylvaine, your heroine, who married a lumberjack, welcomes a “city of the city” shortly after the birth of her boy. Moreover, One night, she discovers an abandoned baby in the forest and her life changes. In addition, How would you present this woman to those who haven’t read you yet?

Sylvaine is an instinctive woman. In addition, It has a very strong link with nature, it is almost in symbiosis with it. Meanwhile, In her own way, without intellectualizing, she resists the merchant world of which she has become a cog. Nevertheless, She fights for her freedom with her weapons: her tenderness and her courage.

You portray it as a “wolf” and you compare the mouth sound of its babies to “mourning couins”. Nevertheless, Why animal your characters like this?

No doubt because breastfeeding reminds us that we are mammals. Therefore, I also wanted to show that it is the law of the strongest which unfortunately regularly governs relations. For example, The Children’s Children, who recruits nurses in the villages, is like a predator who chooses and spots his prey.

I don’t think the maternal instinct is innate. It is largely a social construction. My heroine Sylvaine embodies a kind of maternal ideal. But other women live their motherhood completely differently. They can reject it violently.

Under your pen, Sylvaine milk and other nurses appear almost as a sacred nectar …

The symbol of milk is ambivalent. It is both the metaphor for love, care and attachment to the child. But also that of the sacrifice of séverine cressan: “maternity largely social these women who make their bodies available to a whole system that. exploits them.

Isn’t that the maternal instinct you question through this book?

Indeed, at the source of my novel, there is a question on my part. I myself am the mother of two children. How do you become? I don’t think the maternal instinct is innate. It is largely a social construction. My heroine Sylvaine embodies a kind of maternal ideal. But other women live their motherhood completely differently. They can reject it violently.

There is something very sensual in your writing. The subject did not lend itself to it a priori …

On the contrary ! The subject of my book imposes it. I’m talking about the women’s body. But I would say that my writing is more sensory than sensual. My goal is to give the reader to feel what it does, physically, to breastfeed, to give séverine cressan: “maternity largely social birth. Breastfeeding – that I myself practiced – maybe a sensual experience but also disturbing, confusing or even unpleasant.

In the collective imagination, nurses are often Breton. This is the case of Sylvaine. You are yourself …

I grew up in the mountains of Lyonnais but my whole family is from Côtes-d’Armor. During my childhood, my mother was constantly talking about Brittany and regretted being so far away. For me, it was a lost paradise.

I have heard of Breton nurses who went to Paris to take care of children. But, in my novel, I took care to erase geographic and historical landmarks. Because, in reality, the milk trade concerned other regions, including the Morvan.

I live near La Baule, in Loire-Atlantique. It is not administrative Brittany, but we breathe the Breton air. I also lived in Brest: student at Kerichen high school, I made my hypokhâgne there.

Apart from your family ties, séverine cressan: “maternity largely social what makes you feel Breton?

I feel Breton by blood and culture that I have been transmitted. I wear a fantasized Brittany deep inside me. Additionally, I live near La Baule, in Loire-Atlantique. It is not administrative Brittany, but we breathe the Breton air. I also lived in Brest: student at Kerichen high school, I made my hypokhâgne there.

“Nanny” is your first novel. How did you do to be published?

I always liked to write, especially news, without thinking of being published. I embarked on “nannies” after the birth of my two children. I submitted my text to an author. Alexandre Civico, who also worked as an editor and whom I knew by friends. He read and suggested to me avenues of work. I explained too much! It was the teacher I was who wrote. I sent the new version of the manuscript to several houses by email or by post. séverine cressan: “maternity largely social A few days later. the editor Juliette Ponce, who created Dalva editions in 2021, told me on the phone that she wanted to publish me.

Which authors do you like to read?

I was trained in classical literature. It was only at the age of 20 that I discovered contemporary authors. I admire Sylvie Germain a lot, especially her novel “Days of anger”. It was a revelation for me. I would also quote Laurent Gaudé, Carole Martinez and an author of children’s literature: Timothée de Fombelle.

“Nanny”, by Séverine Serran, Dalva, 22 euros.